Beautiful, wood furnishings add splendor to a room and never lose their charm, but due to the various bumps and scratches they are subjected to over the years, they may start to look worn out eventually. Refinishing these pieces can effectively bring back their past glory, making them look almost like new. Whether looking to refinish one's own furnishings, or hiring a professional to do so, when thinking about refinishing wood furniture Dallas clients will find it useful to know what's involved in it.
The first step will be to completely remove the existing finish from the piece using a good quality furniture stripper. These products come in liquid, paste, semi-paste, and gel forms, for vertical surfaces, a thicker type is best as it will not run as much. Wearing rubber gloves, and a protective goggles and mask, this substance is rubbed over the entire surface, left on as long as indicated, then scraped off with a putty knife and rinsed away with water. Pieces are then left to dry fully.
If the furnishings have deep gouges or scratches, these will need to be filled in using wood filler. This product is a type of putty which is pressed into any surface divots using a craft knife. Once level, it will need to dry completely so it can then be sanded along with the rest of the piece.
Several sandings will normally be needed, beginning with the coarser 120 grit sandpaper, and continuing to use increasingly fine sand paper, with 220 grit being used for the final sanding. In between each sanding, furnishings will need to be wiped down with a cloth to remove dust before the next one. Sanding blocks can be used for flat surfaces, but a folded piece of sandpaper will be needed to reach small, detailed areas.
Before adding the finish, a primer should be applied. Primers ensure a more even application of the finish. Either primer or sand sealer will do the job, and can be painted onto the surface and allowed to dry entirely before applying the final stain.
Stains for furnishings come in a wide range of colors, but it's important to choose one that will produce a nice shade when combined with the natural color of the wood. Finishes may be applied with either a brush or a soft cloth, always dabbing up the excess with a rag throughout the process. It's important to use an equal amount on every section of the piece being finished.
Once the furniture has been stained, it's time to apply a varnish, this provides both a lovely shine and some degree of protection as well. There are spray-on varnishes such as wax and polyurethane, both of which add gloss but the latter has more resistance to damage from moisture. Oil-based, brush-on types such as shellac and lacquer can also be used, but one must pay more attention to preventing drip marks.
Some people specialize in restoring old furnishings, and can provide this service to those who are looking to give their time-worn pieces a much needed new look. They can make recommendations as to the best choice in stain and varnish, and will have the piece looking good as new in just a few days in most cases.
The first step will be to completely remove the existing finish from the piece using a good quality furniture stripper. These products come in liquid, paste, semi-paste, and gel forms, for vertical surfaces, a thicker type is best as it will not run as much. Wearing rubber gloves, and a protective goggles and mask, this substance is rubbed over the entire surface, left on as long as indicated, then scraped off with a putty knife and rinsed away with water. Pieces are then left to dry fully.
If the furnishings have deep gouges or scratches, these will need to be filled in using wood filler. This product is a type of putty which is pressed into any surface divots using a craft knife. Once level, it will need to dry completely so it can then be sanded along with the rest of the piece.
Several sandings will normally be needed, beginning with the coarser 120 grit sandpaper, and continuing to use increasingly fine sand paper, with 220 grit being used for the final sanding. In between each sanding, furnishings will need to be wiped down with a cloth to remove dust before the next one. Sanding blocks can be used for flat surfaces, but a folded piece of sandpaper will be needed to reach small, detailed areas.
Before adding the finish, a primer should be applied. Primers ensure a more even application of the finish. Either primer or sand sealer will do the job, and can be painted onto the surface and allowed to dry entirely before applying the final stain.
Stains for furnishings come in a wide range of colors, but it's important to choose one that will produce a nice shade when combined with the natural color of the wood. Finishes may be applied with either a brush or a soft cloth, always dabbing up the excess with a rag throughout the process. It's important to use an equal amount on every section of the piece being finished.
Once the furniture has been stained, it's time to apply a varnish, this provides both a lovely shine and some degree of protection as well. There are spray-on varnishes such as wax and polyurethane, both of which add gloss but the latter has more resistance to damage from moisture. Oil-based, brush-on types such as shellac and lacquer can also be used, but one must pay more attention to preventing drip marks.
Some people specialize in restoring old furnishings, and can provide this service to those who are looking to give their time-worn pieces a much needed new look. They can make recommendations as to the best choice in stain and varnish, and will have the piece looking good as new in just a few days in most cases.
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